. >> goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security and the deficit. real achievable plans that will lead to new jobs. >> top republicans including senator mcconnell already critical of the speech. >> i strongly suspect the white house will subject us to yet another campaign blitz. frankly, i could write the scripts myself and will be told the president's hands are tied by the sequester he proposed, signed and refuses to get rid of. >> we learned the president will make a major announcement of afghanistan announcing that 34,000 u.s. troops will return home from the region exactly one year from today. that's about half the troops there now. joining us now, maryland congressman chris van hollen, ranking member of the house budget committee. thank you for joining us. >> great to be with you, tamron. >> first, what are the expectations for the president tonight? >> well, i think as you said the president's going to lay out his plan for xik growth, for job creation but focusing on the fact it is not good enough just to have economic growth for the folks alr